Stem making machine



Feb. 21, 1933, K. MEY

STEM MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1931 [NYE N TUR mm AZEY,

.5125 AT TUE-LAKE Y Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEF" KARL MEY, F CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEC T BIG COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STEM MAKING MACHINE Application filed February 9, 1931, Serial No. 514,481, and in Germany March 25, 1930.

lily invention relates to machines for making stems for incandescent electric lamps, radio tubes and similar devices. More particularly, my invention relates to means for holding the leading-in wires, filament support wires, arbors and other parts of the stem during the stem making operation. According to my invention, removable holders are provided which are shaped to receive the stem parts and each stem machine head comprises supporting means for the holder so constructed that these holders when loaded may be quickly and conveniently inserted in the machine. The holders are so constructed as to prevent distortion of the stem parts during the loading and unloading operations. Other features and advantages of my invention will appear from the description which follows, of species thereof and from the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of that portion of a stem making machine in which the leading-in and support wire holder of my invention is embodied; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another holder of similar design for use in manufacturing another type of stem.

The head of the stem machine in which my leading-in wire holder is incorporated is supported through arm which extends from the machine turret (not shown) and which supports through bolts 11 and 12 all portions of the head. Of the three pairs of jaws shown which extend from said bolts, jaws 13-14 support the exhaust tube 15, jaws 1617 support the removable leadingin and support wire holder 18, and jaws 1920 support the flare 21. The pairs of jaws are pulled together by the springs 22, 23 and 24 respectively, each of which is stretched between suitable posts. The wire holder 18 of my invention is gripped by brackets 25 and 26 which are attached to the ends of jaws 16 and 17. The sharp edge along the side of the holder enters into a V-shaped vertical slot in bracket 25 while a depression in the opposite side of said tending from the base of the holder. Guide rods 32 and33are attached to the stop and as said stop is adjusted vertically, slide in passages in said holder. The upper ends of the leading-in wires 28. are held within the fork 34 which is attached to arm 35 which is in turn attached by screws 36 to the side of holder 18. This arm 35 also carries grippers, specifically springs 37, which engage the glass flare or stem tube 21.

After the machine head passes through all of the stem making operations, the head is unloaded and reloaded. At this position the operator removes the holder from the machine as the jaws are opened and inserts another holder before the jaws close. This operation lessens the time required to feed the leading-in and support wires thereby allowing higher machine speeds as the holder inserted contains all the necessary.

leading-in and support wires, and there is therefore no necessity for more than one inserting operation. The jaws are opened as plunger 38 is raised since the thicker portion of said plunger is then brought between the inner ends of pins 39 and 40 of jaws 16 and 17 respectively. Jaws 19 and 20 are opened by jaws 16 and 17 through posts 41 and 42 which extend down from jaws 16 and 17 and engage the inner edges of jaws 19 and 20.

The holder 43 shown in'Fig. 4 differs from holder 18 shown in the other figures in that this holder only has passages for two leading-in wires and one arbor rod. The leading-in wires occupy passages 44 and 45 in the holder and rest in the shallow depressions 46 and 47 in stop 48 while the arbor rod occupies passage 49 in the holder and engages depression 50 in the stop. In this case stop 48 is held by stud 51 and is kept in place by guide rods 52 and 53 corresponding to 32 and 33. The holder 43 is free to be engaged by brackets and 26 as before as it has the sharp edge 54 and depression 55.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A stem machine comprising a remov-l able holder having passages therein for the reception of leading-in wires and support Wires, a pair of jaws adapted to engage and support said holder in said machine, and means whereby said jaws may be released or closed to allow the removal or insertion of said holder as desired.

2. A stem machine comprising a removable holder having passages therein for the reception of leading-in wires and support wires, an adjustable stop carried by said holder and engaging the ends of said Wires, grippers also carried by said holder for en gaging the sides of the stem tube, a pair of jaws adapted to engage and support said holder in said machine and means whereby said jaws may be released or closed to allow the removal or insertion of said holders as desired.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of January, 1931.

KARL MEY. 

